The growing violence against women in the country, has got us thinking – how can we ensure safer cities for our girls? #WomenOnTheMove share their thoughts.

Concerns regarding women’s safety are nothing new. However, women’s safety in public spaces has gained much significance in recent years. There is a greater demand around making public spaces safer for women. This includes better infrastructure to effective policing, stricter punishment for perpetrators etc.

However, planning for safer public spaces for women goes beyond the physical aspect. It depends greatly on how men and women use public space. In India, men have a sense of entitlement to public spaces and more often than not, women are seen as an aberration to that entitlement. This sense of entitlement stretches from a road side tea shop to the public transport, and even in board rooms.

In our weekly #WomenOnTheMove chat over at Twitter last week, we discussed how to break these gender stereotypes, and how to make public spaces accessible to girls and women and Plan India’s initiatives to make ‘safer cities’ with Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India who was a special guest in the weekly chat. On National Girl Child Day, #WomenOnTheMove also talked more about Plan India’s #MeriBetiMeriShakti initiative too. This is what we discussed.

(If you’re not yet following Women’s Web on Twitter, do now, and you can come over for the chat too, every Wednesday 6-7 pm IST).

How to break gender stereotypes?

Given that we live in a society that has a patriarchal framework, Indian society is replete with gender stereotypes. What can we do to break these stereotypes?

Believe more in doing than talking

The only way to do away with these stereotypes is to raise our children by demonstrating more gender equal behaviors more consciously.

Using social media responsibly

Social Media is a powerful weapon. It is a weapon of mass influence and we should use it more responsibly.

Media can play a big role by publishing stories of strength and grit because they do exist all around us. Access to social media platform provide girls and women an opportunity to share their transformative stories #MeriBetiMeriShakti#WomenOnTheMove

Making public places safer — But how?

Indian men have a sense of entitlement to public places. They seem to understand that they own the place. Is there a way to break this? Here’s what #WomenOnTheMove think.

Women should know that public spaces have shared ownership

A2. It’s not easy. But I think the beginning is to develop a sense of ownership/entitlement in the positve sense, I.e, “this space is mine too.” Very often women internalize what society says, “you are an exception, not the norm. Adjust if you want to stay.” https://t.co/m7vP0tqDiM

Believing in ‘this space is mine too’

Role of men in creating safe cities

As long as girls do not take charge of their own development and safety and make informed choices, no policy or programme can be effective. You are right, we need to engage with men and boys and change attitudes towards girls and women #MeriBetiMeriShakti#WomenOnTheMove

‘Safer Cities’ — A Plan India initiative

‘Safer cities’ is a Plan India initiative in Delhi where girls are negotiating and reclaiming public spaces like parks, transport, etc.

It is sad that these incidents continue to happen. However, the environment today is enabling people to publicly rally against atrocities such as Nirbhaya. We should not give up or lose hope #MeriBetiMeriShakti#WomenOnTheMove

Breaking gender stereotypes is the first step in ensuring ‘safer cities’ for our girls. But in general, where on one hand the birth of a son is revered that of a daughter is seen as a burden. #WomenOnTheMove asked a very pertinent question.

The #MeriBetiMeriShakti campaign

Plan India’s #MeriBetiMeriShakti campaign is working towards changing this attitude.

We see numerous cases where situation of girls has changed only because the attitude of parents and communities towards girls has changed. There are more girls completing education, working and getting married later. However, there is a need to strengthen this further

The message is about celebrating girls, breaking gender stereotypes, encouraging conversations around gender equality so that all girls are treated equally and have an opportunity to ‘Learn, Lead, Decide and Thrive’ #MeriBetiMeriShakti#WomenOnTheMove

The sheer fact that we have organisations like Plan India working incessantly towards improving the conditions of women and girls in the country through social initiatives such as #MeriBetiMeriShakti, it won’t be long before we see some significant change in the social attitude.

Any social change will take time. However, it should not deter us from taking the first steps. Celebrating the birth of a girl itself is a big step where millions of girls are not allowed to be born #MeriBetiMeriShakti#WomenOnTheMove

Liked this post?

Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views. Individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times. If you have a complementary or differing point of view, you can request to be a Women's Web contributor too!

Women’s Web is THE place for the Indian woman who wants to stay engaged with the world, who believes that she has a place in the world, and ideas to offer. We focus on women’s self-development and pursuit of happiness, by offering information on career development, entrepreneurship, managing work and family, successful women, women’s health, social issues and personal finances. Our goal is to help women learn and grow!